 |
Embroidery of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva as an Old Woman
|
| |
|
Embroidery of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva as an Old Woman
CHINA; Dated 1918; By Shen Shou; Silk; Shen Shou Art Gallery, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
This silk embroidery was created by Shen Shou. The upper register contains the Heart Sutra calligraphed by Zhang Jian, who was a contemporary statesman, in 1918. In the lower register, there is an image of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. An unusual and distinctive portrayal, the Bodhisattva is shown as slightly hunched back, wearing a red ocher hooded cloak, and carrying a long staff. The head is lowered and the face is indistinct.
This interpretation of Avalokitesvara as an old woman by Shen Shou is a bold departure from traditional images of the famous figure. |
